In modern nations, local governments usually have less powers than national governments do. They usually have some power to raise taxes, though these may be limited by central legislation. In some countries local government is partly or wholly funded by subventions from central government taxation. The question of Municipal Autonomy - which powers the local government has, or should have, and why - is a key question of public administration and governance.

The institutions of local government vary greatly between countries, and even where similar arrangements exist, the terminology often varies. Common names for local government entities include state, province, region, department, county, district, city, township, town, borough, parish, and village. However all these names are often used informally in countries where they do not describe a legal local government entity.

Main articles on each country will usually contain some information about local government, or links to an article with fuller information. The rest of this article gives information or links for countries where a relatively full description is available.

However, intercommunalities are now a level of government between municipalities and departements.

Corsica and Paris (both a commune and a département) are local government sui generis.

Germany

As a federal country, Germany is divided into a number of states (Länder in German), which used to have wide powers, but whose main remaining power today (2004) is their ability to veto federal laws through their Bundesrat representation. The system of local government is described in the article on States of Germany.

Japan

First, Japan is divided into 47 prefectures. Each prefecture comprises cities, villages and towns. In Hokkaido, Nagasaki and Okinawa, there are branches of the prefectural government sometimes referred to as "Subprefectures".

Philippines

United Kingdom

The system of local government is different in the four countries of the United Kingdom.

England

The most complex system is in England, the result of numerous attempts at reform and reorganisation over the centuries.

Above the level considered here is the European Union, the United Kingdom and whatever government offices may exist for England
as a whole. England currently has no elected officials responsible solely for the entire country.

The top level of local government within England is now the region. There are nine regions including Greater London,
which in some ways is a unique case. Each region has a government office and assorted other institutions.
Regions appear to have been introduced in their present form arount 1994 and the policy of the current
administration is to increase their power, including the introduction of elected assemblies where desired.

The layer of government below the regions is a mixture. Tradional counties still exist, although in the 1990s
some of the districts within the counties became separate unitary authorities and a few counties have
been disbanded completely. There are also metropolitan districts in some areas which are similar to unitary authorities.
In Greater London there are London boroughs which are a similar concept.

Counties are further divided into districts (also known as boroughs in some areas).